An early evening trip to the South Gare rewarded us with windswept skies and sunlit wind turbines. However, it was the western skies across the Tees bay that truly stole the show, presenting a more dramatic spectacle.
A huge container ship had just passed by the Gare, en route to some distant port. Guiding this vessel would have been a pilot, an extremely adept seaman who has an intimate familiarity with the local waters. Pilots embark on the ship to collaborate with the crew, skilfully manoeuvring it in and out of the treacherous Tees mouth.
It is impossible for crews, especially a multinational one, to possess the intricate knowledge required to navigate the ship safely into the Tees port. Once the pilot’s task was complete, he would transfer to the pilots’ boat and back to the base at South Gare. Though the sea state was relatively calm today, the act of transferring between the small pilots’ boat and an enormous ship in inclement conditions demands a frightening amount of courage.
For centuries, pilots have operated in and around the Tees, initially keeping a watchful eye for approaching vessels and competing amongst themselves for the opportunity to guide them into the port. Over time, some pilots established strong working relationships with specific captains and shipping companies, becoming the preferred choice for their services. The pilotage profession often passed down from father to son, with certain local names becoming synonymous with the service. One can easily imagine the hard-earned wisdom of navigating the Tees, once an exceedingly challenging river prior to 19th-century improvements, being handed down through generations to ensure success in such a specialised line of work1‘History of Tees Bay Pilots – Tees Bay Pilots’. 2018. Tees Bay Pilots <https://teesbaypilots.co.uk/history-of-tees-bay-pilots/> [accessed 15 July 2023].
As trade and industry flourished along the riverbanks, the role of local pilots grew increasingly vital. This culminated in the establishment of the Tees Pilotage Commission in 1882, assuming the responsibility of recruiting and training pilots while enhancing the quality of service. Eventually, it evolved into the Tees Pilotage Authority in 1922 and continued to adapt to the present day, with Tees Bay Pilots currently providing pilotage services to the ports of Tees and Hartlepool. Given South Gare’s strategic location at the river’s mouth, it naturally became the hub for pilots embarking and disembarking from ships. However, in the early days, once the railway line ceased operation, pilots faced a lengthy walk back to Redcar2‘Hold on to Your Hats…..’ 2021. Teesside Archives (Teesside Archives) <https://teessidearchives.wordpress.com/2021/04/14/hold-on-to-your-hats/> [accessed 15 July 2023].
- 1‘History of Tees Bay Pilots – Tees Bay Pilots’. 2018. Tees Bay Pilots <https://teesbaypilots.co.uk/history-of-tees-bay-pilots/> [accessed 15 July 2023]
- 2‘Hold on to Your Hats…..’ 2021. Teesside Archives (Teesside Archives) <https://teessidearchives.wordpress.com/2021/04/14/hold-on-to-your-hats/> [accessed 15 July 2023]
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